After fencing off dogs, Agri-Horticulture Society bans visitors’ entry
Times of India | 20 September 2025The move came after some animal lovers raised their voice against animal cruelty on the campus.
Meenakshi Pandeya, who has been taking strolls in the AHSI either in the morning or in the evening since 2001, was shocked on Friday when the guards refused to open the gates to her in the evening. "The guards told me that they have been instructed by the Society not to open the gates to anyone else other than members. I used to purchase an entry ticket for Rs 100, but today I was told that only the members of the Society are allowed inside.
I don't know what is happening to the dogs inside the Society," said Pandeya.
TOI made attempts to reach out to the functionaries for their statement on the alleged ban on entry of visitors, but they did not respond to calls. An AHSI member, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the Society's functionaries stopped the entry of visitors. "The members, who love animals, have also been warned. They are not feeding dogs any more, fearing to lose membership," said the member.
The animal lovers who are barred from entering the campus for not being members are requesting the Society to arrange for food and water for the dogs. "We are worried about the dogs. They are voiceless and bank on daily feeding by us. They are left to suffer due to the lack of sympathy for animals among those in charge of the AHSI. Societies and institutions are meant to set examples of kindness," said another animal lover, Nandita Thirani.
She added, "We came to know that one of the dogs has given birth. Without nourishment, how can she feed her babies? The other pregnant dog is still missing."
In the past week, the over two-century-old horticulture organisation founded by William Carey has been embroiled in a controversy since the functionaries banned feeding of dogs and birds on the campus. Animal lovers alleged that about 12 dogs were trapped behind barbed wire fencing put up on the campus by the authorities.
